PPE issue record

What you need to know

The plain-English guidance that comes with this document.

• If the job needs PPE, you pay for it — full stop. You can never charge someone for the protective equipment they need for their work. And since April 2022 that duty doesn't stop at employees: it also covers a wider group of "limb (b)" workers — casual and some gig or agency staff. So everyone who needs it gets it, free.
• PPE is the last line of defence, not the first. Sort the risk out at source first — a safer product, better ventilation, a guard on the machine. PPE is there to catch what's left over, not to do the whole job. If you're relying on gloves alone to make something safe, look again at the task.
• Get the right kit — and make sure it fits. Gloves rated for the actual chemical, goggles that seal, boots with the right protection, hearing protection that suits the noise. Check it's suitable and properly marked (UKCA or CE). And involve the person — PPE that's uncomfortable or the wrong size ends up in a drawer.
• Keep it in good order, and replace it. Protective kit wears out, gets damaged, or stops sealing. Keep it clean, check it, and swap it when it's past its best — the "replaced / renewed" column is there to help you track that.
• Show people how to use it, and make it the norm. PPE only works if it's worn properly, every time. A quick demo at issue, and a culture where wearing it is just what you do, matters as much as the kit itself.
• The log is your proof. If there's ever a claim or an inspection, a signed record showing you provided the right PPE, when, is exactly what you'll want to have. It's also personal data, so keep it secure.
• Scotland is the same; check Northern Ireland. The 2022 extension to "limb (b)" workers applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own PPE regulations and may not mirror that extension exactly, so NI employers should check their own position — though providing proper PPE free to anyone who needs it is the right thing everywhere.